AMCU strike shuts down PMC operations

OPERATIONS at Palabora Mining Company have grinned to a halt as workers affiliated to the The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) demand a 12% wage increase.

The union and employer are not seeing eye to eye on the percentages as the company is promising 8% in 2017, 7% in 2018 and 7% in 2019.

The disagreement saw non-striking workers held hostage on Thursday as they were not allowed to leave.

Police and a private security company were hard at work removing rocks, burning tyres and other objects on the mine’s 3km private road.

STRIKING: AMCU members have shut down Palabora Mine at Phalaborwa in Limpopo. Photos: Matome Sebelemetsa

Striking workers said they were prepared to continue with their shutdown until management gave into their demands.

“Our leadership has informed us that the national leadership is meeting with the company and the CCMA today in Polokwane in a bid to reach an agreement. We will be here for the whole day and no operation will resume until the company meets our demands. The company is arrogant because it has money, but it does not want to meet our demands yet executives are receiving R200 000 bonuses,” one of the workers said.

He further lambasted the mine for employing a private security company in a bid to threaten them.

African Times is a publication of Mohlakamotala Media PTY Ltd registration number 2015/044989/0. All rights are reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions, see here (link).